NIGEL PEARSON

[Ultra]

Seven games unbeaten, third place in the league with a game in hand on the top two. What's not to like?

Well, actually quite a bit. Tuesday night's fortunate draw against a mediocre Walsall team suggests that the wheels on the Pearson bandwagon are beginning to loosen.

If the performance had been a rare lapse, then perhaps we could have shrugged it off. But it wasn't, and we can't. Our excellent away form has led many on here to overlook the dire displays in the last FOUR home games, which have been as dull as anything endured during the horrors of Holloway, Megson, Kelly and Levein.

The central problem that has bedevilled the side in the last four miserable years - a complete lack of creativity in central midfield - remains as intractable as ever. Neither Matt Oakley nor Andy King merit their current "chosen men" status any more than Stephen Hughes or Andy Johnson did under previous regimes. Tackling, forward passing, and dribbling past opponents are all alien concepts to this less-than-dynamic duo - which make them easy prey for the hoofers and hackers who dominate midfields in this league.

This weakness is starting to affect other areas of the team. Even Tunchev, the one player of genuine quality in the current side, is starting to suffer from lapses in concentration which cost us goals. The sooner Pearson decides on a first-choice back four, and sticks to it, the better. Rotating the defence only brings instability, both individual and collective.

On the wings, while Gradel and Dyer have shown glimpses of real quality in the opening weeks of the season, neither of them inspire confidence in their ability to maintain consistency over a 46-game campaign. They may flatter to deceive in warm conditions, but when the long midwinter trips to Carlisle, Hartlepool and Yeovil loom, will they be able to pass those tests? The jury is still very much out on this question

In these circumstances, it would not be a complete surprise if the attack, which has been surpringly potent to date, suffers the type of drought which dragged us down to these depths in the first place. Both Howard and Fryatt have proved with previous clubs that they can be prolific in this division. Yet their technical limitations and lack of mobility mean that well-drilled defences can often contain them with ease, as we have witnessed again too often in recent weeks. Fortunately there are plenty of other options available in attack, which Pearson may need to explore before too long.

For all kinds of reasons, we need this manager to be successful. But the consistent failings that his side continue to display so often at the Stadium of Junk indicate that it is far from guaranteed that this will happen.

[FilboFox]

And yet still, we aren't losing and the team seems to be coming together and sticking together even when behind.

I'm not at all worried as I think there is improvements and slowly but surely, the team is building a unity that will in time mean that we are able to win week in week out home and away.

Now, were we to start losing like we were last year, then I'd be worried. Stop being so negative and enjoy the fact that we are near the top... it makes a bloody change now doesn't it!?!

[Fox You Forest]

Had a good night? :beer:

[Collymore]

judge it after 20 games

[shen]

Seven games unbeaten, third place in the league with a game in hand on the top two. What's not to like?

As you say, there are surely plenty things not to like about our current predicament. However, while it's often healthy to have both feet planted firmly to the ground beneath you, it is allowed to be just a tad optimistic. NP has done reasonably well, turning around a hopeless side into one that is genuinely fighting for automatic promotion so far. We've only lost once in the league, and we've been great away. He's brought in a potent weapon in Dyer, and some very useful players in Gilbert, Hobbs, Powell, Tunchev, Adams, Martin and Morrisson who WILL play plenty of games this season. Compared to the past seasons where players were brought in without ever making any impact on the first team, that's very good stuff from NP!

The fact you choose to look at the negatives is probably because you want to be the one saying 'I told you so' if it all goes pear-shaped. If it doesn't, well then we're all winners! While I've nothing against caution, I really do question your motives for highlighting the negatives. I'm sure NP, the players and the staff as well as the fans will be all too aware that there's a lot of work to be done, but nothing good has ever come out of focusing on the negatives, when in fact there are plenty of positives to look at.

NP has been here less than 6 months, so he's still learning about this team and what his options are, as well as being quite new in his role as manager. So far he's shown a lot of promise, so let's back him and his team and hope he will bring a bit of success and joy to the fans.

[Milky]

[Floating Fox]

Go do something worthwhile with your life Ultra seriously. (Says me on here at 3am.)

[SOCCERROO FOX]

Typical Leicester fan jumping to conclussions ffs

[Floating Fox]

Typical Leicester fan jumping to conclussions ffs

Fat clueless Moronic cock.

[SOCCERROO FOX]

Fat clueless Moronic cock.

No you didn't, bang yes he did

[wirralsimon]

Pearson out!

Lets have another sack the manager poll! They are always good for morale.

Simon

[Blueunderpants]

If we win the game in hand then we would be Top of the division. How dare Nigel do this to us - Quite sackable offence, I would say

Also, on a more serious note, people should start to give more respect to the teams in the lower divisions - especially as this is where we reside right now. We have no right to automatic promotion.

Lets be positive - Even the "its too early" feeling is starting to disappear = Being top is feeling "real" right now.

Lets sing the "sack Pearson" when we fall out of the playoff zone - D'oh

[Thracian]

Seven games unbeaten, third place in the league with a game in hand on the top two. What's not to like?

Well, actually quite a bit. Tuesday night's fortunate draw against a mediocre Walsall team suggests that the wheels on the Pearson bandwagon are beginning to loosen.

If the performance had been a rare lapse, then perhaps we could have shrugged it off. But it wasn't, and we can't. Our excellent away form has led many on here to overlook the dire displays in the last FOUR home games, which have been as dull as anything endured during the horrors of Holloway, Megson, Kelly and Levein.

The central problem that has bedevilled the side in the last four miserable years - a complete lack of creativity in central midfield - remains as intractable as ever. Neither Matt Oakley nor Andy King merit their current "chosen men" status any more than Stephen Hughes or Andy Johnson did under previous regimes. Tackling, forward passing, and dribbling past opponents are all alien concepts to this less-than-dynamic duo - which make them easy prey for the hoofers and hackers who dominate midfields in this league.

This weakness is starting to affect other areas of the team. Even Tunchev, the one player of genuine quality in the current side, is starting to suffer from lapses in concentration which cost us goals. The sooner Pearson decides on a first-choice back four, and sticks to it, the better. Rotating the defence only brings instability, both individual and collective.

On the wings, while Gradel and Dyer have shown glimpses of real quality in the opening weeks of the season, neither of them inspire confidence in their ability to maintain consistency over a 46-game campaign. They may flatter to deceive in warm conditions, but when the long midwinter trips to Carlisle, Hartlepool and Yeovil loom, will they be able to pass those tests? The jury is still very much out on this question

In these circumstances, it would not be a complete surprise if the attack, which has been surpringly potent to date, suffers the type of drought which dragged us down to these depths in the first place. Both Howard and Fryatt have proved with previous clubs that they can be prolific in this division. Yet their technical limitations and lack of mobility mean that well-drilled defences can often contain them with ease, as we have witnessed again too often in recent weeks. Fortunately there are plenty of other options available in attack, which Pearson may need to explore before too long.

For all kinds of reasons, we need this manager to be successful. But the consistent failings that his side continue to display so often at the Stadium of Junk indicate that it is far from guaranteed that this will happen.

If you want to point the finger of blame at any individual for our recent reduction in momentum there's not one single player who would escape criticism.

I don't actually think individuals have much to do with our problems at all - they are mostly the same individuals who took us to the top of the table.

The factors I would be looking at are these:

a) We are using too small a squad. I'm not a fan of big squads but one look at the bench for Walsall showed how few potentially match-changing alternatives we have. Who is our alternative central midfielder? How daft not to have one whether it be Porter, Adams or an alternative signing.

We always use a two-man central midfield meaning King and Oakley have had the shoulder the burden without respite, sometimes for three matches in eight days and sometimes against a three man central midfield as teams seek to stifle our attack. They have actually done remarkably well.

We have lost one league game all season, they have protected the back line and have contributed to scoring what is a bagful of goals by our standards. How long is it since a central midfield player of ours got three goals in a season never mind before the end of October? Or been at the top end of the shooting stats? Both players need some help but right now they are having to pace themselves.

b) Teams have videos of us now. They know our likely team and tactics because Pearson rarely changes anything

This means that they can easily plan to limit our effect. They close mark our wingers, even doubling up on Gradel at times, they pack their defence and they pressure our two-man midfield who are have so few passing options given the singular lack of fast, constructive movement up front.

We need a player in the style of Billy McKay or DJ Campbell to make the selfless runs across and behind the opposition's back line or off the shoulder of defenders to beat them for pace.

If our central strikers were more flexible, which they're not, Gradel and Dyer could move inside on occasions. They could also swop wings and both these things would potentially upsety an organised defence and certainly give them new and less expected problems to deal with.

c) We really need to focus again on what we're good at, to examine other ways we might be dangerous and to have more faith in our collective ability.

Early season we were brilliant at closing teams down, regaining possession quickly and then breaking forward in numbers and at speed. But because we use so few players the freshness has gone and that collective sharpness has been lost.

Ferguson talks of keeping players fresh and how clever he is it at doing so. Does Pearson really fail to understand how important this is?

Today's football is not about keeping the same team as I loved to do. It is about the subtle use of everyone in a squad because, with the pace of football today, the build up of fixtures, and the requirements of players to attack or defend at speed as a unit, team changes are inevitable. Yet too many of our squad are injured or, like Porter and Weso before his loan, seemingly ignored.

d) We seem doubtful as a team these days. We know what opponents will do but seem to have no plan B if they do it and appear afraid to really commit ourselves when going forward. It is imperative that we banish all negative thoughts and attack with fervour and freedom.

This means using King as the natural attacker he is, as well as defensively, it means our full-backs getting forward and even overlapping our wingers, if means much more movement up front and the use of alternatives if someone gets knackered.

Pearson clearly likes to keep his football simple but winning championships is not simple. It needs the manager to be forever one step ahead of the opposition and not the least bit afraid to change his tactics. It needs a squad of players with proper options who are able to be utilised regularly and who offer something different or some reinforcement to what we're doing.

There is damn all wrong with our players at Divison One level. In fact they've done well considering how few have been used. But there needs to be alternatives and I don't see the bench against Walsall as representing alternatives.

PS: Why was the draw fortunate? We scored two perfectly legitimate goals in reply to theirs, had stacks of possession and on decent chances might easily have won 4-2 or even better. Walsall were an average side who threatened little apart from their goals.

[Tilley]

I can't believe I am reading this.

I could understand if we were lingering in the bottom half.

Tuesday nights result was disappointing, but people have gone slightly over the top.

[The People's Hero]

I can't believe I am reading this.

I could understand if we were lingering in the bottom half.

Tuesday nights result was disappointing, but people have gone slightly over the top.

Well, look who started the thread.

Should say it all, really.

[Simi]

At the start of the season I thought most people agreed that we'd hit a rough patch and maybe not perform as well? That teams would come and sit in front of us and hit us on the break.

Walsall showed desire to play at some periods in the game but for the most part were happy to hit us on the break, we need to combat this better obviously, but it's no coincidence that we are performing better away from home. There is less pressure on us and teams are more likely to have a go at us, meaning we can exploit them better.

Tuesday was not a great result for us, but to start saying the wheels are loosening is just madness.

[FrankieWorthoYaggedMyWife]

Seven games unbeaten, third place in the league with a game in hand on the top two. What's not to like?

Well, actually quite a bit. Tuesday night's fortunate draw against a mediocre Walsall team suggests that the wheels on the Pearson bandwagon are beginning to loosen.

If the performance had been a rare lapse, then perhaps we could have shrugged it off. But it wasn't, and we can't. Our excellent away form has led many on here to overlook the dire displays in the last FOUR home games, which have been as dull as anything endured during the horrors of Holloway, Megson, Kelly and Levein.

The central problem that has bedevilled the side in the last four miserable years - a complete lack of creativity in central midfield - remains as intractable as ever. Neither Matt Oakley nor Andy King merit their current "chosen men" status any more than Stephen Hughes or Andy Johnson did under previous regimes. Tackling, forward passing, and dribbling past opponents are all alien concepts to this less-than-dynamic duo - which make them easy prey for the hoofers and hackers who dominate midfields in this league.

This weakness is starting to affect other areas of the team. Even Tunchev, the one player of genuine quality in the current side, is starting to suffer from lapses in concentration which cost us goals. The sooner Pearson decides on a first-choice back four, and sticks to it, the better. Rotating the defence only brings instability, both individual and collective.

On the wings, while Gradel and Dyer have shown glimpses of real quality in the opening weeks of the season, neither of them inspire confidence in their ability to maintain consistency over a 46-game campaign. They may flatter to deceive in warm conditions, but when the long midwinter trips to Carlisle, Hartlepool and Yeovil loom, will they be able to pass those tests? The jury is still very much out on this question

In these circumstances, it would not be a complete surprise if the attack, which has been surpringly potent to date, suffers the type of drought which dragged us down to these depths in the first place. Both Howard and Fryatt have proved with previous clubs that they can be prolific in this division. Yet their technical limitations and lack of mobility mean that well-drilled defences can often contain them with ease, as we have witnessed again too often in recent weeks. Fortunately there are plenty of other options available in attack, which Pearson may need to explore before too long.

For all kinds of reasons, we need this manager to be successful. But the consistent failings that his side continue to display so often at the Stadium of Junk indicate that it is far from guaranteed that this will happen.

You really are a class A ****!

[Thracian]

You really are a class A ****!

Just so Ultra knows, is that an insult or a compliment?

[chrisfox]

Seven games unbeaten, third place in the league with a game in hand on the top two.

should have finished your post there i'm afraid mate!

1 bad result and it's all doom and gloom for some people! You can't expect us to win 4-0 every game. this is a difficult, competative league, where every game is a scrap.

Yes we looked short of cover in midfield and our strikers didn't perform too well, but ffs we are 3rd with game in hand. which would put us top!

You weren't happy last season cause we were losing games left right and centre, but now we are winning and picking up points your main moaning point has now gone so you start picking holes were there are very few!

How about you cheer up and enjoy the start we've made, instead of being such a miserable sod!

[Hullfox]

Drivel

[andyh1884]

Seven games unbeaten, third place in the league with a game in hand on the top two. What's not to like?

The central problem that has bedevilled the side in the last four miserable years - a complete lack of creativity in central midfield - remains as intractable as ever. Neither Matt Oakley nor Andy King merit their current "chosen men" status any more than Stephen Hughes or Andy Johnson did under previous regimes. Tackling, forward passing, and dribbling past opponents are all alien concepts to this less-than-dynamic duo - which make them easy prey for the hoofers and hackers who dominate midfields in this league.

That central midfield pairing has scored 4 goals this season so far, and I'm sure there's a couple of assists thrown in too.

Who would you like to see in there at present? For one reason or another there's not a lot of options. Plus, for a team with a midfield that's dominated so easily, we are in a mighty lofty position.

This weakness is starting to affect other areas of the team. Even Tunchev, the one player of genuine quality in the current side, is starting to suffer from lapses in concentration which cost us goals. The sooner Pearson decides on a first-choice back four, and sticks to it, the better. Rotating the defence only brings instability, both individual and collective.

Why? It's not like these players are new to these positions. I'm fairly sure they're all familiar with the responsibility to pick up their man - the mistake for both goals on Tuesday. I don't see how the make-up of the defence affects their positional sense. A centre-back should be picking up a striker, it's hardly rocket science. It's just silly mistakes, stop trying to create problems that aren't there. The changes to the line-up, in my opinion, haven't caused these mistakes to happen.

On the wings, while Gradel and Dyer have shown glimpses of real quality in the opening weeks of the season, neither of them inspire confidence in their ability to maintain consistency over a 46-game campaign. They may flatter to deceive in warm conditions, but when the long midwinter trips to Carlisle, Hartlepool and Yeovil loom, will they be able to pass those tests? The jury is still very much out on this question

So Gradel's assists and Lloyd's goals & assists don't count cos it's not winter? I'm fairly sure Gradel played a full season - Autumn, Winter and Spring - with Bournemouth last year and by all accounts was superb throughout. More moaning for something to do methinks.

In these circumstances, it would not be a complete surprise if the attack, which has been surpringly potent to date, suffers the type of drought which dragged us down to these depths in the first place. Both Howard and Fryatt have proved with previous clubs that they can be prolific in this division. Yet their technical limitations and lack of mobility mean that well-drilled defences can often contain them with ease, as we have witnessed again too often in recent weeks. Fortunately there are plenty of other options available in attack, which Pearson may need to explore before too long.

Will these be the same well-drilled defences we've played so far this season in the league who have, on average, conceeded a goal every game to these two? I'll be more than happy if that continues.

[Alexikokopops]

Jesus fucking wept.

[Raj]

Jesus fucking wept.

Not only Jesus...Allah,Muhammad,Krishna and Lord Vishnu too...

we really do have some miserable fcukng fans!!!

[Foxhateram]

Jesus fucking wept.

A slight over-reaction to this thread going on here.

i can see ultra's point of pointing out what needs to be improved. I dont agree with the way he has done it, as his point was put over in such a negative way that it seems insultive to the team.

However the lad does have a fair point. There is lots to improve on, and yes im sure the coaching staff at the walkers know that perfectly well.

Ultra is worried about our lack of creativity against a 11 men behind the ball, but to be quite honest even the best teams struggle to score VS this policy.

Millwall were the first to play this against us. They played a very very negative game throughout and defended for their lives, only to hit us near the end when our team had impatiantly rushed up field in an attempt to score, only to be hit on the counter attack. Wallsall played the same sorta game, defend hard and hoof the ball over the top when our defence ventures a little bit too far.

This league is awful, there are very few teams that even know how to play football, they just hoof the ball over the top. There are many ways to counter such activities.

You can;

1) hold a deep defensive line and rely on your CB's height to rid of the ball (this often leads to the opposition CM's picking up the ball and hoofing again, leading to a bleak and boring game)

2) You can rush out and close down the opposite teams CB's before they can hoof the ball, meaning you have a high defensive line who try and catch the strikers offside when a ball is hoofed. (The offside trap is always a risky game though, i seriously doubt that our back line have to ability to work well enough TOGETHER to play it just yet)

3) You can encourage the hoof ball by allowing the CB's space, leaving the whole of your team very deep in your own half. You then win the ball with headers and build from the back, and dragging the oppositions midfiled forward with possesion passing in midfield. The probelm with this though is that building from the back is very difficult and any mistake is often harshly punished.

4)Another is to play the Arsenal tyoe game, where they pass the ball round between their defenders and midfileders essentially dragging the 10 outfield players of the opposition team out of their deep defensive roles. (This appears to be what Pearson wants, as he hints at our team needing to be more patiant with their attacks. He is stating that we push out to quickly and end up hitting a brick wall of 11 men).

There are positives and negatives to all 4 of the above. 4 is what i would play, and have played before with several teams. The formation often starts as a 5-3-2 where you play the ball around in your own half, and then the two wide defenders burst forward when the oppoistion get dragged out. Which then creates what effectively becomes a 3-3-4 formation.

[The People's Hero]

Whenever I'm feeling a bit sorry for myself, I just look at something Ultra's posted and think.. hey, it could be a LOT worse.